The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-28
ORANGES AND LRA0RS.
Italian Merchants Fear Callfornia's
Product will Affect Their Trade.
Fan Francisco ChronicI

Fan Francisco Chronicle.
The telegraph stated q few days
ago that the Italian Minister Of Com
merce had been making inquiries
into the extent Of the orange and
lemon producs OF the United States,
especially regarding its effect upon
Italian commerce in those fruits.
Further information regarding this
matter was obtained yesterday from
Charles Dondero, secretary of the
local Italian Chamber Of Commerce.
Mr.. Dondero was found busily en-
ployed wrapping up the monthly bull
letins published by the Chamber,
which are sent all over the United
States wherever there are italian
merchants. About 400 papers are
also sent regularly to Italy to mer-
chants there. The papers are print
ed in Italian, and contain mass Of
information regarding California and
its productions, and informing IN
tending settlers where to locate.
Did the chamber give the Italian
Government information about our
citrus iruits?" the reporter asked.
YES" replied Mr.. Dondero,
they wrote to us about it and we
gave them considerable information.
We did not use the exact language
quoted in the dispatch, however.
The dispatch says that it was re-
ported that California can supply the
American market throughout the
year. The yearly orange crop OF
Italy is very great, aud several
millions Of people live upon the
orange and lemon business alone.
Italy exports about 150,000,000
oranges a year to this country, and
about $50, 600, 900 lemons. Most OF
the lemons are from Sicily. But lew
Of the oranges come TO this coast
nearly all being absorbed by the
Eastern market. A few lemons
come here. however, not more thar
about 1000 boxes q year. Last year
nearly 5000 boxes were imported
but that was above the average. The
Italian lemons are much harder
than ours, and will keep for eight
months and stand trip across the
ocean. They will then be nearly a,
good as new. Our lemons, however
with the best Of care, will not last
more than tour or FIVE weeks. Mos
Of the lemons are from Sicily. In
the East they always talk about the
Mediterranean citrus fruit, bu,
nesrly all Of them are FROM Italy"
Have any Of our oranges been ex.
ported TO I,aly2'
"Oh, yes, but only in small
amounts-more as samples than any
thing else. The Italians have pro
nounced them very good. From tn,
amount OF capital invested 10 tn,
business there, and from the fac
that the business is one Of the lead
ing industries Of the country, yol
can readily see why the government
in behalf Of the Italian merchants
should make these inquiries. The
desire TO ascertain just how tn
American production is going I,
affect their trade. have no doub
whatever that California can produc
ten times as many oranges as IL doe
now. for all the way from Los An
geles 10 Shasta they can be raised
This is a peculiarly fortunate State
you must know, for we have not tn
heavy winds and frosts OF Floridi
and the soil is we'll adapted TO rails
ing oranges. The amount OF tn
orange production OF California is i
fact as yet undetermined. Nobod
can tell Il. In 100 years il may b
100 times greater tiiau'it is now"
How do our lemons compare wit
those Of other countries2"
They rank about third. Firs
comes the Sicilian. then the Au,
tralian, then the Californian, an
then the Mexican. The Mexica
lemon will not last as long as IN
Californian even. Our lemons wi
not last to Europe. The lines wi
last longer, but are not used as niue
as the lemon. The lemon trade
one Of the greatest resources {
Sicily. The Italian Government, {
you may sec from the steps alread
taken by il, is doing all IL can to Al
sist the Italian trade in oranges an
lemons, and is acquiring all info
nation regarding matters whic
might affect ID,